It is one of those days in Aba when the air feels charged with more than just football. There is a buzz around the Enyimba International Stadium, a sense that something bigger than the usual midweek routine is unfolding. The streets leading to the ground are alive with chatter, vendors are doing brisk business, and even the familiar faces at the gates wear broader smiles. It is match week, yes, but it is also something more — a meeting point of power, pride, and passion, all converging on the home of the Peoples Elephant.
It feels like a carnival at our fortress today. Music blaring, speakers bouncing, colours flying and you would almost think Enyimba just clinched another league title. But not quite. This time, the fanfare is not football related. The President — well, his representative — is the special guest, and our hallowed ground has become the stage.
Now, before anyone raises more eyebrows, let us be clear: this is not totally out of place. What belongs to us, by extension, belongs to our owners. And as the biggest event space in Aba, it is only natural that the Enyimba Stadium would be the first choice to host the number one citizen of the country. We have welcomed icons here before; this simply adds another name to the list.
There are two ways to look at it. First, our pitch. Luckily, it is artificial turf which is built tough enough to handle heavy movement without breaking a sweat. Maybe that is why the governor made it a point to grace our last home game and even reward the boys with a cash bonus, prioritizing us over Abia Warriors who were making their first ever continental appearance. We repaid that gesture by playing brilliantly and winning.
The second way? Maybe, just maybe, all this noise is a fitting prelude to what is coming this weekend. Because Sunday is no ordinary day as it is Rivers United at home. A clash that has always carried rivalry, but this time feels even sharper, even more personal. If todays fanfare is the dress rehearsal, then Sunday must deliver the real celebration: three points, bragging rights, and a victory that keeps our unbeaten run intact.
So, as we say in Igbo, Nnọọ Onye isi ala — welcome, Mr. President. But come Sunday, it will not be about politics, protocols, or presidential parades. It will be about football, our Enyimba, and the kind of fanfare only victory can bring.
Back tomorrow with a proper buildup to the big fixture.
EnyimbaEnyi!
